MoD signs £23m air surveillance system deal

IBM's system helps RAF detect suspicious aircraft activity

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a £23m deal with IBM for the management of an air surveillance system used by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The five-year deal will see MoD subsidiary Defence Equipment and Support and IBM working on the management of a system used to individually identify and monitor two million movements of UK aircraft in flight yearly, on a round-the-clock basis.

IBM’s system also tracks aircraft movements against established flight plans and analyses real-time data to detect suspicious activity. This allows the RAF to assign jet fighters to intercept such planes or those entering Nato and national airspace without authorisation.

Originally designed and implemented by IBM in 2001, the system will be upgraded under the deal extension to incorporate new types of data feeds from commercial air traffic control centres.

Other planned work includes enhancements in radar and data-link technology to allow transmission and processing of information from aircraft in flight.

The new agreement will continue to cover support for all hardware, software, training, helpdesk and onsite assistance to meet the requirements specified by the RAF.